Crossover: The Curse and the Desire

The steam from the shower still lingered in the air as Yuta stepped out of the bathroom.

The room was dark, lit only by the faint glow slipping through the half-open blinds. He tossed the towel over a chair, pulled on a clean shirt, and sat on the edge of the bed.

He closed his eyes for a moment.

When he opened them, the familiar interface appeared before him—translucent, discreet, visible only to his eyes.

[⚙️ JJK System – Interface Active]

---

[Current User Status]

Name: Yuta Okkotsu

Level: 2

Experience: 70 / 200

Cursed Energy: 20% (Low)

Vitality: 100 / 100

Mental State: Stable

---

[Current Attributes]

Strength: 5

Agility: 6

Physical Endurance: 4

Spiritual Control: 8

Intellect: 10

Available Points: +3

---

Yuta opened the attribute distribution tab. He didn't hesitate.

+1 to Physical Endurance—for precaution.

+1 to Spiritual Control—essential for maintaining energy flow.

+1 to Intellect—to handle the challenges ahead.

The interface flickered subtly as it registered the changes.

---

[New Status]

Strength: 5

Agility: 6

Physical Endurance: 5

Spiritual Control: 9

Intellect: 11

---

With the adjustments complete, he accessed the skills tab.

[Skill: Forge Protective Amulet – Level 1]

Allows the creation of talismans capable of blocking low to medium-level curses. Requires focus and refined spiritual traces.

Yuta snapped his fingers, activating the function.

The instructions appeared in sequence:

⤷ Available Spiritual Materials: [Low]

⤷ Conduction Capacity: Stable

⤷ Amulet Shape: Circular Pendant

⤷ Function: Passive barrier against proximity curses

He began manipulating the energy slowly, guiding the flow with precision through his fingers. A faint glow emerged between his hands, gradually taking shape. Thin lines, like silver threads, wove together in the air, forming a small, irregular disc—rough but functional.

Spiritual energy concentrated at the object's center.

[✔️ Protective Amulet successfully created.]

[Classification: Intermediate]

[Function: Blocks 1 medium-level spiritual attack before disintegrating.]

Yuta examined the result. Still warm with energy, the amulet pulsed faintly in his palm.

It wasn't perfect—the edges were uneven, and the glow wavered slightly—but it would work. For a first attempt, it was solid. And most importantly: it was stable.

He didn't stop there.

He closed his eyes again, controlling his breathing. His cursed energy was limited, but with enough focus, he could forge a few more before depleting it entirely.

Once more, light gathered at his fingertips. Silver threads appeared in the air, dancing around his palm until they wove into another spiritual disc.

[Second amulet: completed.]

Yuta didn't smile, but his mind felt aligned. Creating something tangible in this invisible world was like an anchor—a way to maintain control.

Third.

Fourth.

Each one varied slightly in its traces, but all were functional. The energy within them vibrated softly, as if acknowledging their purpose: to protect.

In the end, five small talismans rested on the desk in his room.

Yuta opened the window just enough to feel the night air. The street was quiet. No movement beyond the lit streetlights and the occasional sound of tires on asphalt.

He looked at the amulets for a moment.

Five units. Each pulsing with a faint, discreet, but present signature.

Yuta thought for a few seconds.

'Testing them before handing them out… that's the safest move.'

He picked up two with careful movements. One he hung around his neck, hidden under his shirt. The other slipped into the inner pocket of his jacket—ready for quick use if needed.

He wasn't looking for a fight. But if something appeared, he wanted answers. And the best way to know if something worked… was to test it in the real world.

He turned off the light.

Grabbed his keys. Walked to the door without making a sound and opened it slowly.

The night air came in with a gentle breeze. Cold enough to remind him that the world outside never stopped—not even when everything seemed still.

Yuta descended the building's stairs with soft steps. His gaze alert, his senses slightly heightened.

It was time to test the strength of his own charms.

---

Yuta walked the streets calmly.

The streetlights cast long shadows on the ground. Some houses still had lit windows; others were already steeped in the silence of the night.

He noticed it first out of the corner of his eye.

Across the street, at the opposite corner, a dim figure moved. Slow, dragging. Formless but dense enough to make the surrounding air feel heavier.

A spirit.

Yuta merely glanced away.

A couple was too close—crossing the sidewalk with bags in hand. The risk of being seen using cursed energy here wasn't worth it.

'Not a direct threat… yet.'

He kept walking.

The streets grew narrower as he moved away from the main avenue. The city's sounds faded. Voices became distant echoes.

Then he heard it.

A short meow, followed by a muffled sound. Like a quick scratch against cans or crates.

He turned his head slowly.

A narrow alley, between two low buildings. The weak lights barely touched the dirty ground. But he saw it.

A cat—small, with patchy gray fur—darted in zigzags, its hairs bristling.

Behind it, a dark, unstable form floated like living smoke. Thin tentacles stretched with each lunge, trying to seize its prey.

Yuta stopped.

The wind blew softly between the buildings, carrying the smell of garbage and dampness.

'Time to test.'

He took three steps into the alley. The ground creaked under his sneakers, small puddles reflecting distorted lights.

The spirit sensed him.

It stopped chasing the cat. Floated for a few seconds, as if its body were dissolving into the air—then reformed into a grotesque shape, opaque eyes emerging at the center of the smoke.

"…You can see me?"

The voice was jagged. Thin, like metal scraping glass.

Yuta didn't answer. He just tilted his head slightly, a half-smile on his face.

The spirit writhed in the air, surprised.

Then it screamed.

"THEN DIE!"

With a shrill hiss—CHRRRAAAHH!—the spirit lunged, its tentacles extended at blinding speed.

Yuta stepped to the side, narrowly dodging the first attack.

SCHAKK!—the second strike tore through the air inches from his face.

The third and fourth came in quick succession—TSSH! KRAAAH!—fast, erratic, trying to overwhelm him.

On the fifth attack, Yuta blocked with his forearm, activating the amulet.

CLANG!—the impact sparked a blue glow, a momentary barrier absorbing the direct hit. The spirit recoiled, startled by the resistance.

'Now.'

A cursed blade formed in Yuta's hand with a sharp snap—KZZTT!

He charged forward in a straight line, slicing the air with precision.

The spirit tried to flee, but it was too late.

With a single strike—clean, firm—Yuta cut through the creature from side to side.

ZRRRRCHHH!!

The spirit's dark energy exploded into fragments, dissipating like smoke sucked into a vacuum.

Silence.

The alley fell empty again.

Yuta breathed slowly. The amulet still pulsed faintly against his chest, proving it held up under attack.

He lowered the blade, which dissolved shortly after.

'Five attacks… acceptable durability. Direct response. Efficiency confirmed.'

The cat had already vanished.

Yuta turned, ready to move on. The test was over.

But before he left the alley, the system responded with a faint glow in his eyes.

[+20 Experience gained]

[Temporary Blade – Advanced to Level 2]

Yuta paused for a moment, analyzing the data in his mind as if reading an invisible panel before his eyes.

'The blade performed well under pressure. Materialization time's faster. Duration should've increased too.'

He nodded to himself.

Not bad for a quick test.

'I just need to refine the energy flow… and maybe start testing amulets on others.'

The wind swept through the alley's sides again, lifting small papers and accumulated dust.

Yuta adjusted the collar of his uniform and resumed walking.

It was time to head back.

Bonus Chapter Available!

Enjoying my work on "The curse and the Desire," "DXD: The Awakening of Phenex," or "Reincarnation in Smallville"?

Then I have a surprise for you!

By supporting me on Patreon, you'll gain access to exclusive bonus chapters, behind-the-scenes content, and much more.

Your support means the world to me and helps me keep writing the stories you love.

Support here: patreon.com/22Mirko22

Thank you so much for reading — see you in the next chapter!